Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-10-23
THE WHITE CAT

We called her the Duchess, so stately
and handsome was she; and we were all
very fond OF her, All but my old friend
Tom Harding.
Directly You saw her your admiration
was caught; she was so large, her coat
was So luxuriaut and white. and her tail
was 81 splendid. You would exclaim:
"What a magnificent c~reature!'' And
when she walked sedately 10 you, placed
her great, soft ~forepaws on Your knee,
and with n gentle whimper gazed for a
moment into your face before proceeding
~ the hearthrug. you would say delight
edly: "What a perfect lady, What
charming manners! She almost speaks!"
We-that is my wife and I-were ac-
customed to remarks of that kind. All
our friends made them upon first seeing
''The Duchess" We expected them; we
looked forward r. them, and they graft
fed US; for not having at that time been
blessed with chi lren, we lavished much
Of our epare aft lotion and pride upon our
cat. In the c,se Of Tom Harding we
were disappointed. The introduction
went off very lady. When our favorite
was presented Tom regarded her with
positive aversion; when she rested on his
knee he brushed her of "a though she
had been a snake, and rising abruptly he
walked 10 the window.
Ny wife and | looked at each other in
silent surprise. She raised her eyebrows,
and drew down the corners of her pretty
mouth as though To say. This friend Of
yours of whom you have talked $ much
turns out 10 be a perfect brute" could
only reply with a shrug of the shoulders
which said. My dear. / don't under
stand il at all" Nor did |. | had not
seen Tom Harding for several years. but
! remembered him as a really kind heart
ed, generous fellow-ratl.er inclined to
be melancholy, perhaps Chis mother was
Irish and wrote pOetry,)-but certainly
with nothing of the brute about him.
When Tom returned from the window
he had another surprise for us. He had
consented TO stay a few dNaSSith us; he
now announced that he had overlooked
lin his eagerness to he with me. his old
friend, of o%ourse!D certain very import
ami engagements. and that, in fact. he
would he reluctantly compelled to return
to town that very evening. Ny friend
excused himself. addressing my wife,
whose regret was not more than cour
teous, in nervous, almost pleading tone.
Oh, he was So sorry! | didn't believe
him.
Tom, nv boy"-we were sitting with
the decanter between US, after my wife
had left the dinner table-"Tom, my
boy" | said, "you have no very import
ant engagements in town."
That was my opinion. and / took an
old friends privilege Of expressing it
bluntly.
Tom started and colored slightly.
what makes you think 500" he asked,
trining with the nut crackers.
Il don't know exactly. but I'm sure
I'm right. You told Gertrude a fib-be
careful or your glass will he over-but
you haven't the courage TO brazen it out
with me:''
'.Nonseuse! Why should I tell your
wife a iib:"
why. indeed. II was very wrong OF
you-take another cigar if that one won't
burn-you can only make rcparation by
telling her husband the truth"
My dear fellow. | have nothing TO
confesS, sail Tom with slight irritable
ity rs he cut about half an inch of a
fresh cigar. How ] do hate 10 see good
cigars mutilatedl
Confess why you changed your mind
about staying 70 suddenly. Come" |
added, rs he made no reply. I'm help
you. Some one in this house is obnox-
ious 10 you:'
..Nlho can it be-" exclaimed Tom
b%anteringly, with a view To hiding his
confusion.
Our beautiful cat CHANGED nj that mo-
ment % leap from the lawn to the win
dow sill.
..The Duchess" I said quietly, point
ing with my cigar.
Tom Hardi.g turned pale-yes, this old
friend Of mine. a full grown man, actu'
ally turned pale at the sight Of a white
cat on a window sill. II was most ex'
traordlnary. So great was my surprise
and curiosity that | let my cigar go out
The Duchess eyed us calmly for a few
moments, and then jumping down she
walked over TO Tom with the evident
MISUNDERSTANDING c~reature.-of max
ing another attempt 10 cultivate his &C.
quaintance. Tom ross and walked 70
another part Of the room.
''For once your grace has failed 10
conquer" | remarked, STOPPING TO caress
my favorite. Then i led her TO the door
and bowed her out.
was a little annoyed, and I suppose
Tom guessed ii, for he said when | re-
turned 10 the table: II am afraid you
are offended with me-"
"Not with you, but with a mystery,
hate mysteries-but let rs change th'
subject"
"No," he replied, nervouslyi II ow'
you an explanation. This disagreeabl'
incident has forced a confession upon
me-"
'Let us change the subject" re
peated.
was beginning 10 pity him, he seemet
% distressed.
at il too late" he said in almost de
spairing tones II must explain, or yot
viii think me either . brute or q mad